Porsche parts in Germany near Switzerland border (or web)

Transportation, Travel and Trips
1
I am looking for a place to purchase some common parts like brake pads etc. for my Porsche. Dealer prices are as everyone knows high, from US I could order on-line but if anyone knows a place in Germany (or in Switzerland if one exists) which sells Porsche accessories I would be very interested. Or knows a good german on-line store as a second option...UK based I pretty much know...

2
Do you plan to do your own servicing? Otherwise the savings might not be particularly worthwhile (unless you have some agreements with a mechanic). Doubly so if you are not taking your car to the track or don't do lots of spirited driving around passes where the clutch, brakes and other consumable stuff gets worn down.

3
Reifendirekt.ch is often cheaper than Reifendirekt.de

4
Car parts for almost all cars will be cheaper in the UK. Especially true of German cars.

I have used specialist Porsche suppliers for specialist parts & www.eurocarparts.com for general servicing needs. OEM oil filters or the same filter with Porsche written on it in a Porsche box, same for Audi huge choice of brake pads etc. Since VAT is less in CH it's not a big deal shipping here, the more you spend the more you save.

5
Not sure yet but when CH garage charges 1k for changing pads and some hardware which is a couple of hundreds for the parts and less than 2 hr very easy job it makes you think...you get good compensation for the time spent getting your hands dirty. I am not saying garage does not need to charge for the job but if I can make 300 CHF net per hour by doing it myself I consider that a good salary. But I am not a banker from Zurich...

Regular servicing (oil, filters etc.) is easy as well but two things one needs to consider: could be minor thing but how easy it is to get rid of old oil and other junk here (where I used to live you could dump that stuff to several gas station collection points free of charge which is of course driven by the desire to prevent idiots dumping it to nearby ditch) and maybe not so minor how much you put weight on stamp in the service book (would not under estimate this when sellling the car). Let's be honest the regular services at Porsche are by far not good value for money if there is no special need besides scheduled servicing.

One thing here of course for the oil change is to find a DYI rent-by-hour garage which would make the job more ergonomic (and most likely would have collection point for waste) but I think I've seen a few of those...price per hour here of course might make you sweat a bit to be faster

So I am merely mapping my options for now...and am aware Swiss have not really found the joy of being their own mechanics...I might go the Swiss way if I get lazy in the end...

6
Can anyone recommend a decent (preferably not main dealer ) place to service a BMW X5 in Germany please??..hoping to travel into Germany from Zurich for a service which may also require a new steering rack or some other bits like brakes.... Any ideas appreciated..

7
Very interesting this. I have just brought my Caterham nee Lotus7 over with me from the UK (will try to get it registered here....fingers crossed) and do all my own work on it being changing brake pads and things or pulling the gearbox out to change ratios etc. I have already had residents in the block ask me about the the three sets of alloys/tyres, two tool chests, spare nose cone, wings etc. packed up along my underground parking space

It would indeed seem that the DIY mechanic is not a common thing here. Well, at the prices quoted above I'm certainly going to try to do the basic maintenance (oils etc) on my tin-top too (when I eventually find a used one to buy....) or look for an enthusiastic classic car independent.

8
Often you are forbidden by fire regulations to keep a lot of car stuff in a shared garage and also forbidden to do work on your car by fire regulations. Best to find a single garage if you can.

9
As per Maron's comment - almost certainly in the small print of your parking space contract it will strictly prohibit the servicing of a car or motorbike.

As for disposing of oil - good luck - last time I checked my local recycling place didn't even take it.

10
Very easy to dispose of oil in ZH, plenty of places take it.

11
http://www.porsche-maienfeld.ch/

Has a lot of parts and overnight delivery. Ordered parts in the evening and picked up next morning.

But are you sure it's expensive to order from U.S., ordered parts from U.S. for a VW and it was cheaper by almost half including the sending, then ordering it here. Couldn't believe it myself as it had to be sent to the U.S. and sent back for half price.

12
I had no idea....you can't service a car in your paid for parking space? Hmmm. Thanks for the heads up on that - I need to check the contract then

It's funny. In Vaud, when you rent you don't get light fixtures. All fittings are removed. My wife and kids moved in a few days before me and had no lighting other than the vanity units in the bathrooms and the kitchen light via the overhead extraction.

Every room just had two exposed wires hanging through the ceiling

I went to the letting agent in Nyon to complain and they said yes, that's the case, but you can hang your own lights...."but do I need an electrician?" I asked. "Not needed if you can do it yourself....." Was the reply.

So, I can't service my car in a parking spot that I pay for but I can wire up lights to exposed live wires in my flat even if I am not a qualified electrician (fortunately I am reasonably DIY minded and skilled and until recently qualified to PAT test). Oh, and I don't have to have any smoke detectors either it seems...

I love this place

13
Second that. In the Leimbach swimming pool, the recycling spot also has a container for oils. These containers are not in every recycling spot, but with a bit of luck you can find them. I guess there would be a list online, but I couldn't be bothered.

Also second working on your car. In most (if not all) cases of DIY jobs, there is zero fire hazard. However neighbours can be annoying. Even changing your rims can make them give you weird looks. I've changed oil, flushed cooling system, and changed brake pads. If you don't make a mess, you'll probably be fine.

I've also played around with my bike (and a friend's bike) on the sidewalk.

It would be highly preferable to do it in private, but space is hard to come by in ZH... At some point I need a big garage or even better a barn like situation where I can have some fun.

And as for the original question. Just search ebay or online shops anywhere in the EU. You'll still save a bunch on VAT and the strong franc.

14
Somebody called the police when I changed the oil of a motorbike in the street. The police turned up & asked what I was doing, I said fixing an oil leek, they went away.

15
About "you can't service a car in your paid for parking space" - you need to check I assume like everything else this varies Kanton to Kanton, also depends on your neighbours. Mine are pretty relaxed so I get away with a lot but I know people who had problems.

BTW it is actually illegal in Zürich to fix your car in the street

16
I was washing my car after first moving here with soap and rinsing if off in front of the house, when I was informed it's not allowed here, as the soap goes into the sewer.. told me to use the car wash from now on.. I also am the only person around to wax my car... never seen anyone do it..

17
First time my Swiss wife saw me wax my car she thought I had gone nuts; surely garages do that?.

I bought an orbital polisher from Westfalia which makes it quick and easy.

18
Not had any problems washing my cars on my driveway.

Maybe they didn't approve of the products you used? Or that you should be employing a professional who has completed an apprenticeship in washing cars?

Or did you wash it on a Sunday??

19
No can't do anything on a Sun, think it's just a rule here in our area.. was told by neighbors who saw me not to do it again or I'd be in trouble here. Guess from what they said it's the soap subs in the sewer.

20
Where I lived in Zurich, they had two underground bays in which to wash your car. I'd do a wash and wax in there quite often.....

For major servicing, I do it when I'm in the UK. For the cambelt on my car, it paid for itself doing it in the UK. I've also had parts of the suspension replaced and as the wheels were off, pads were £35 or something. It takes 30 minutes to do pads if you're slow.....with a trolley lift and the right tools, I'd say 10 minutes.